Officer-In-Charge

Commander Alfred J. (John) Owings, II
 
Officer in Charge, Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit TWO
 

CDR Owings attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he graduated cum laude, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1993.  He was winged as a Naval Aviator in February, 1996, and served two tours as a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SIX in Norfolk, VA, and at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD.  He deployed as a helicopter Search and Rescue pilot aboard USS INCHON (MCS-12), in support of 22^nd Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard USS SAIPAN (LHA-2), and as an Individual Augmentee aboard USNS COMFORT (T-AH-20) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before being honorably discharged in 2003.
 
Following completion of a Master of Arts with a focus in International Affairs at Georgetown University in 2006, he entered medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, VA, where he received his Doctorate in Medicine in 2010.  He was recommissioned in the Navy, and completed Internship training in Family Medicine at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL, in 2011.  He completed Flight Surgeon training in Pensacola, FL, in 2012, and subsequently served as a Squadron Flight Surgeon at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26 in Norfolk, VA.  He then reported for training in General Preventive Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 2014, where he earned a Master of Public Health and served as Chief Resident, successfully completing training in 2016.

Following Residency, he reported to II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) in Camp Lejeune, NC, where he served as the II MEF Preventive Medicine Officer and Deputy Force Surgeon.  Following his tour at II MEF, he reported to Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit TWO (NEPMU-2) in Norfolk, VA, in 2018, where he served as Department Head, Team Leader of Forward Deployable Preventive Medicine Unit (FDPMU) One, and as Assistant Officer in Charge during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.  He was selected as Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine for Health Services, Headquarters Marine Corps, where he reported in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  He served as the principle public health advisor to The Medical Officer of the Marine Corps and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, before departing in 2022 to serve as Officer in Charge of NEPMU-2.

CDR Owings is a Diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine.  His personal decorations include the Navy Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), and various service and unit awards.  He is qualified as a Naval Flight Surgeon and Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer.  He is married to Robin Owings, also originally from Richmond, Virginia, and they have three beautiful daughters, Clara, Frances, and Cate.
 

Commander Alfred J. (John) Owings, II

MC, U.S. Navy